JPH03184828A - Decoration apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of damage or wrinkles by keeping a sheet as horizontal as possible by emitting light in a horizontal direction in close vicinity to a transfer sheet and adjusting the pressures in upper and lower chambers on the basis of the detection signal from a photoelectric conversion means when the light is shielded by the sheet. CONSTITUTION:In such a state that a transfer sheet 3 is heated, infrared rays are emitted from photocouplers 21a, 21b to photocouplers 22a, 22b. When the photocoupler 22b detects the draw-down of the transfer sheet 3 by the heating of the transfer sheet 3 at this time to transmit a signal, a controller 19 closes the valve 13 of the chamber 2b on the detection side of the transfer sheet 3 for 0.3 sec and opens the same immediately thereafter. This operation is repeated until the transfer sheet 3 is not detected by the photocouplers. When the transfer sheet 3 reaches proper temp., the controller 19 stops the heating of the transfer sheet and raises a table 4a to bring the chambers 2a to atmospheric pressure and brings the chamber 2b to a vacuum state to bring the transfer sheet to the almost close contact state with the surface of a molded body 5. Next, when a chamber 2a is set to a pressurized state and the chamber 2b is brought to a vacuum state, the transfer sheet comes into close contact with the molded body 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a method for applying characters or characters to the surface of an object having a curved surface or an uneven surface.
This invention relates to decorative devices for forming figures.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a decoration device for drawing characters, figures, etc. on the surface of an object having a curved surface or an uneven surface, the one shown in FIG. 2 is known.

In this device, a transfer sheet 3 is supplied between chambers 2a and 2b of a transfer device 1 with the adhesive side facing down, and is covered with a table 4a of a vertically movable mounting base 4 provided at the bottom of the chamber 2b. A molded body 5 as a decoration is mounted. A heater 6 is disposed on the ceiling of the chamber 2a, and bosses 7a are provided on the side walls of the chambers 2a and 2b.
7b, 8a, 8b have pipes 9a, 9b, 10
a, 10b are attached. The pipe 9a is connected to a tank 17 having a vacuum pump 16 via a valve 11 and a pipe 9d, so that compressed air is supplied from the tank 17 into the chamber 2a. On the other hand, a vacuum pump 18 is connected to the vibrator 9a via a vibrator 9e, a valve 12, and a vibrator 9g. The vibrator 9b is connected to the vibrator 9g via the valve 13 and the vibrator 9f. Vibrator 10aS10b has valve 14.15
are connected, and the valves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, the blower 16, the vacuum pump 18 and the heater 6 are connected to the control means 1.
9.

When transferring onto the surface of the molded object 5, the heater 6 is activated to activate the adhesive 3b of the transfer sheet 3, and the table 4a is raised to transfer the molded object 5 onto the transfer sheet 3.
approach. Next, the valves 11, 14, 15 are closed, the valves 12, 13 are opened, and the vacuum pump 18 is driven to create a vacuum inside the chambers 2a, 2b. When the transfer sheet 3 is sufficiently softened, the valve 14 is opened with the valve 12 closed to bring the inside of the chamber 2a to atmospheric pressure.
Furthermore, the valve 11 is opened to remove the tank 17 from the chamber 2a.
Supply compressed air inside. As a result, the transfer sheet 3 is attached to the surface of the molded body 5.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of such a conventional decoration device, the following problems remain.

That is, when painting the surface of the molded body 5 with the transfer sheet 3, the transfer sheet 3 is made of thermoplastic resin, but depending on the type and composition of this thermoplastic resin, the heat resistance may be poor. If the transfer sheet 3 is heated before the adhesive 3a of No. 3 is activated, drawdown of the transfer sheet 3 will occur.

Furthermore, the degree of vacuum in the upper and lower chambers 2a and 2b may not be equal due to the size of the molded object 5 to be decorated or other factors, causing the transfer sheet 3 to swell upward or downward, resulting in the transfer sheet 3 being torn or damaged. There were issues with wrinkles and distorted designs.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a sheet-like decorative member in the chamber by maintaining a uniform degree of vacuum in the upper and lower chambers when the upper and lower chambers are brought into a vacuum state. To provide a decoration device that can prevent the transfer sheet from being damaged or wrinkled by holding it as horizontally as possible, and can widen the allowable range of heat resistance when selecting a sheet-like decorative member. purpose.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the decoration device according to the present invention irradiates light horizontally onto at least one of the upper and lower chambers in proximity to the sheet-like decorative member. A photoelectric conversion means that generates a detection signal when the sheet-like decorative member is shielded from light is provided, and based on the detection signal from the photoelectric conversion means, upper and lower chambers are connected so that the detection signal is not detected. The invention is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for adjusting the pressure.

(Function) According to the decoration device according to the present invention, when the sheet-like decorative member is sufficiently heated by the heating of the heater, the difference in atmospheric pressure in the low-pressure state of the upper and lower chambers or the heat of the sheet-like decorative member Due to the plasticity, the sheet-like decorative member may bulge toward the chamber with lower atmospheric pressure or may sag toward the lower chamber. When this decorative member bulges out or hangs down in the region through which the light of the photoelectric conversion means passes, the sheet-like decorative member blocks light from the space facing the photoelectric conversion means, so that the photoelectric conversion means outputs a detection signal. Based on this output signal, the air pressure in the upper and lower chambers is adjusted so that the opposing photoelectric conversion means are not shielded from light. Once this adjustment has been made, the chamber containing the object to be decorated is set to a low pressure state, and the chamber containing the heater is set to a high pressure state, and the sheet-like decorative member is placed on the surface of the object to be decorated without wrinkles or tears. In close contact.

(Example) Hereinafter, a decoration device according to an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the decoration device according to this embodiment, and the decoration device 1 has upper and lower chambers 2a.

2b. The upper and lower chambers 2a and 2b are closed with a transfer sheet 3 interposed therebetween as a sheet-like decorative member, and the transfer sheet 3 is attached to the upper and lower chambers 2a.

It functions as a partition wall of 2b. A heater 6 is disposed on the ceiling of the upper chamber 2a, and a table 4a is disposed within the lower chamber 2b, and the table 4a can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by a lifting device 4. A molded object 5 as an object to be decorated is arranged on the table 4a. The molded body 5 is placed on the table 4a when the upper and lower chambers 2a, 2t) are in an open state, but at this time the table 4a is located on the bottom side of the chamber 2b. Once the molded body 5 is positioned on the table 4a, the transfer sheet 3 is placed so that the adhesive layer 3b faces the surface of the molded body 5, and the upper and lower chambers 2a and 2b are closed.

Boss portions 7a and 7b are opened in opposing side walls of the upper chamber 2a, respectively. One ends of pipes 9a and 10a are fitted into pipes a and 7b. A pipe 9c is connected to the pipe 9a. The pipe 9c is connected to a tank 17 having a compression pump 16 for supplying compressed air, and the supply of compressed air from the tank 17 is controlled by opening and closing a valve 11 provided in the middle of the pipe 9c. A vacuum pump 1 is installed at the other end of the pipe 9a.
8 are connected. A valve 2 is disposed in the middle of the pipe 9a and closer to the vacuum pump 18 than the connection part of the pipe 9c. This valve 12 is opened to suck air inside the chamber 2a. Boss part 1
A pipe 10a is connected to 0a, and the upper chamber 2a communicates with the atmosphere via a valve 14.

Boss portions 8a, 8b are similarly opened in the opposing side walls of the lower chamber 2b, and pipes 9b, 10b are fitted into the boss portions 8a, 8b. The pipe 9b is connected to a portion of the pipe 9a located between the valve 12 and the vacuum pump 18, and the pipe 9b has a valve 13.
is provided. This valve 13 is opened to suck air inside the chamber 2b. The pipe 10b has a valve 15 that is opened to communicate the chamber 2b with the atmosphere.
is provided.

The opening/closing operations of the valves 11 to 15, the lifting/lowering control of the lifting device 4, and the heat generation control of the heater 6 are controlled by a control means 19. The control by this control means 19 will be described later together with the operation of the decoration device 1 of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, glass windows 19a and 19b are provided on opposing side walls of the upper chamber 2a, respectively, and similarly, glass windows 20a and 20b are provided on opposing side walls of the lower chamber 2b. It is provided. These glass windows 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b are connected to the chamber 2.
a, 2b (7) Formed near the junction boundary.

Photocouplers 21a and 21b as photoelectric conversion means are disposed facing each other on the outside of the glass windows 19a and 19b, and photocouplers 22a and 22b are disposed facing each other on the outside of the glass windows 20a and 20b. has been done. The photocouplers 21a and 22a are used as light emitting elements, and the photocouplers 21b and 22b are used as light receiving elements.
The infrared light emitted from the photocoupler 21a is received by the photocoupler 21b, and the photocoupler 22a
The infrared light emitted from the photocoupler 22b is received by the photocoupler 22b.

Photocouplers 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b
The transfer sheet 3 sandwiched between the upper and lower chambers 2a, 2b may sag due to heating, or the chambers 2a, 2 may
The transfer sheet 3 is disposed at a position where the surface of the transfer sheet 3 can be detected from the side of the chambers 2a and 2b when it bulges due to the pressure difference in the transfer sheet 3.

Photocouplers 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b
is connected to the control device 1Q-9, emits light according to a control command from the control device 19, and transmits a detection signal to the control device 19. When the infrared light from the photocoupler 21a is blocked by the surface of the transfer sheet 3, a detection signal is output from the photocoupler 21b, and the infrared light from the photocoupler 22a is blocked by the surface of the transfer sheet 3.
When the light is blocked by the surface of the photocoupler 22b, a detection signal is output from the photocoupler 22b.

This detection signal is sent to the control means 19 and the valve 12
Alternatively, either the valve 13 is opened or closed.

Next, the operation of the decoration device 1 and the control method of the control device 19 according to this embodiment will be explained.

First, a command signal is sent to the lifting device 4 to position the table 4a at the bottom of the chamber 2b, and the table 4a is positioned at the bottom of the chamber 2b.
Open b. The opening and closing operations of the chambers 2a and 2b are performed by sending a command signal from the control device 19 to a drive device (not shown) to raise the chamber 2a. After opening the chamber 2a, the controller 19 issues a transport command to a transport device (not shown).
and place the precept form 10-5 on the table 4a. Once the molded body 5 is positioned at a predetermined position on the table 4a, a command is issued from the control device 19 to a sheet feeding means (not shown) to position the portion of the transfer sheet 3 to be transferred at a predetermined position above the molded body 5. The transfer sheet 3 is then placed between the chambers 2a and 2b. Transfer - Once a predetermined portion of the transfer sheet 3 is positioned at a predetermined portion of the molded body 5, a command is sent to the aforementioned drive device to move the chambers 2a, 2.
Close b. As a result, the molded body 5 is placed inside the chamber 2b.
A predetermined portion of the transfer sheet 3 is located above a predetermined portion of the molded body 5 between the chambers 2a and 2b.

Next, the transfer process of the transfer sheet 3 will be explained.

When the predetermined portion of the transfer sheet 3 is located above the predetermined portion of the molded body 5, a command is sent from the control device 19 to close the valve 11.
．． 14 and 15 are closed, valves 12 and 13 are opened, and vacuum pump 18 is driven. This reduces the air pressure within the chambers 2a, 2b. At the same time as the vacuum pump 18 is driven, a command to cause the heater 6 to generate heat is sent to the heater 6 to cause the heater 6 to generate heat. The heat generated temperature of the transfer sheet 3 due to the heat generated by the heater 6 is detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the chamber 2a, and the temperature information of the transfer sheet 3 from this temperature sensor is set in the control device 19 in advance. The temperature is constantly compared to the measured temperature. This preset temperature is set to a temperature at which the adhesive 3b of the transfer sheet 3 is sufficiently activated and the transfer sheet 3 is highly plastic before the transfer sheet 3 is damaged due to drawdown. do. While the transfer sheet 3 is being heated, a command signal is sent from the control device 19 to the photocouplers 21a, 21b, and 22a.

22b, and the photocouplers 21a, 21b irradiate the photocouplers 22a, 22b with infrared light.

At this time, the transfer sheet 3 is gradually moved into the chamber 2 by heating.
As well as drawing down to the b side, chambers 2a and 2b
If there is a difference in the atmospheric pressures, the transfer sheet 3 expands toward the side of the chamber where the atmospheric pressure is lower. When the photocoupler 21b detects the drawdown or bulge of the transfer sheet 3 and sends a detection signal to the control device 19, the control device 19 sends a command based on this detection signal to the chamber on the side where the transfer sheet 3 was detected. Either valve 12 or 13 of 2a or 2b is closed for 0.3 seconds and then immediately opened. This is repeated until the second cover cover 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b no longer detects the transfer sheet 3. When it is determined from the temperature information from the temperature sensor that the transfer sheet 3 has reached the appropriate contact temperature, the heating of the heater 6 is stopped and the valves 12 and L3 are closed. by this,
The chambers 2a and 2b are in a substantially vacuum state. Valve 12
．． 13, photocouplers 21a, 21b,
22a and 22b, and sends a command to the lifting device 4 to raise the table 4a.
to rise.

The height to which the table 4a is raised is set in advance in the lifting device 4 or the control device 19 according to the height of the molded body 5.

When the table 4a rises to a predetermined height, the control device 19
sends a command to open the valve 14. As a result, the inside of the chamber 2a becomes atmospheric pressure, the chamber 2b becomes in a vacuum state, and the transfer sheet 3 is brought into close contact with the surface of the molded body 5.

Next, from the control device 19, the valve 11 and the compression pump 16 are
When a command is sent to open the valve 11 and the compression pump 16 is activated to introduce compressed air into the chamber 2a, the inside of the chamber 2a becomes pressurized and the chamber 2b becomes a vacuum state. . by this,
The transfer sheet 3 is brought into close contact with the recess 5a of the molded body 5 without any gaps. When the transfer sheet 3 is completely in contact with the recess 5a of the molded body 5, the compression pump 16 and the vacuum pump 18 are stopped by a command from the control device 19, and the valves 13, 14, and 15 are opened to enlarge both the chambers 2a and 2b. Make it atmospheric pressure. After the chambers 2a and 2b are brought to atmospheric pressure, a command signal to open the chamber 2a is sent to the drive device to open the chambers 2a and 2b, and the transfer sheet 3 is peeled off from the molded product 5 except for the part adhered to the molded product 5. Then, the molded body 5 is taken out.

After taking out the molded body 5, a command is sent to the lifting device 4 to lower the table 4a, a new molded body 5 is mounted on the table 4a, and a new transfer sheet 3 is positioned on the chamber 2b. Further, the temperature sensor is returned to the state before the surface treatment, the chambers 2a and 2b are closed, and the process returns to the previous step.

In this embodiment, photocouplers 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b are provided outside the chambers 2a, 2b, and glass windows 19a, 1 are provided in the chambers 2a, 2b.
Although chambers 9b, 20a, and 20b are provided, chambers 2a,
Heat-resistant photocouplers 14-21a, 21b, 22a, and 22b may be disposed inside 2b.

According to the decoration device according to this embodiment, the upper and lower chambers 2a and 2b are irradiated with light in the horizontal direction at a height close to the transfer sheet 3, and when the light is blocked by the bulging or drawn down transfer sheet 3, Photocouplers 21a, 21b, 22a that generate detection signals
.

22b, and photocouplers 21a, 21b, 2
Based on the detection signals of the transfer sheet 3 from 2a and 22b, a control means is provided to adjust the pressure of the upper and lower chambers until this detection signal is not detected, so that the bulge or drawdown of the transfer sheet 3 can be alleviated. transfer sheet 3
can be made almost horizontal.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the decoration device according to the present invention allows at least one of the upper and lower chambers to be brought close to the sheet-like decorative member and irradiates light in the horizontal direction, so that the sheet-like decorative member is illuminated with light. A photoelectric conversion means that generates a detection signal when light is blocked is provided, and based on the detection signal from this photoelectric conversion means,
Since the configuration is provided with a control means for adjusting the pressure of the upper and lower chambers 15- so that this detection signal is not detected, when the lower chamber is brought into a depressurized state, the atmospheric pressure of the upper and lower chambers is It is possible to maintain the difference in the thickness as uniformly as possible and to hold the sheet-shaped decorative material inside the chamber as horizontally as possible, making it possible to use decorative materials with low heat resistance and to attach them in a sufficiently softened state. Because I can,
It becomes possible to paint molded products with complex shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a sectional structure of a decorative device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the sectional structure of a conventional decorative device. 1... Decoration devices 2a, 2b... Upper and lower chambers 3... Transfer sheet (sheet-like decorative member) 4... Lifting device 4a... Table 5... Molded object (object to be decorated) 16 -6...Heaters 9a, 9b, 9a...-Pipe 10a, lob.=Pipe 11, 12.13.14.15...Valve 16...
Compression pump 17...tank 18...vacuum pump 19...control means 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b=glass window portions 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b-7 odocoupler (photoelectric conversion means) 17-

Claims (1)

[Claims] Between the upper chamber, which is equipped with a heater and can be switched between a low pressure state and a high pressure state, and the lower chamber, which stores the object to be decorated and can be switched to a low pressure state, there is a The sheet-like decorative members are arranged horizontally to define upper and lower chambers, and both the upper and lower chambers are brought into a reduced pressure state and the heater is heated to soften the sheet-like decorative member to a temperature that allows it to adhere to the object to be decorated. In a decoration device that decorates the object by setting a lower chamber to a low pressure state and an upper chamber to a high pressure state when A photoelectric conversion means is provided which irradiates light in a horizontal direction and generates a detection signal when the light is blocked by the sheet-like decorative member, and based on the detection signal from the photoelectric conversion means, the detection signal is not detected. A decorative device characterized in that it is provided with a control means for adjusting the pressure of the upper and lower chambers.